Encouraged by the success of a similar telephone solicitation campaign last year, the Reichhold Center for the Arts on St. Thomas launched a calling program this week, seeking donations to help support the territory’s premiere fine arts entertainment center. By the end of August, Reichhold aims to connect with the more than 7,000 people in its database.
“It’s our hope that our patrons will open their hearts,” said Linda Smith, director of annual giving and alumni affairs. “We look forward to a very positive outcome.”
Nissa Copemann, Reichhold’s director, said the campaign is also a way to update the art center’s records. The callers will be checking to see whether such things as addresses are still current or if they need revision, which will help ensure that patrons receive information about upcoming performances.
The names on the list include Virgin Islands residents and visitors as well as alumni from the University of the Virgin Islands, of which Reichhold is a part.
Neither Copemann nor Smith would reveal the monetary goal of the campaign. Last year, when UVI conducted a calling program, reaching out to alumni for support in the institution’s 50th anniversary year, it tripled its $25,000 goal. Some of that money was earmarked for Reichhold. This time the calling program is specifically for Reichhold.
The center is a nonprofit with the mission of entertaining and uplifting the people of the Virgin Islands. Without grants and significant donations to augment its ticket sales, it couldn’t afford to bring top quality performances to St. Thomas, Copemann said.
Not only is there the headliner’s fee, there are travel and lodging and equipment rental costs for the star, the back-up performers, and the tech and road crew. And there are Reichhold’s operating costs; while it relies heavily on volunteers, it also must maintain a small paid staff.
If Reichhold were to charge the audience for the total cost of a performance, “nobody could afford to come to our shows,” Copemann said.
Both women are acutely aware that in hard economic times, like the present, some people may view ticket purchases as an expense they can cut.
But Copemann countered the argument. “The arts are a critical part of our lives,” she said, adding that thousands of children and youth in the territory have been exposed to quality performances and student programs sponsored by the center and noting that their view of life has changed because of this exposure.
“We hope to open new doors next season,” Copemann said. “We’ve gone from eight shows to 12 shows this season,” noting that the diverse offerings are aimed at capturing a wide audience.
Reichhold will announce the lineup for the 2013-14 season at a Business After Hours event at the arts center on Aug. 22.
